The Queen of Denmark, the King and Queen of Sweden and the King and Queen of Norway along with the President of Iceland will visit Finland on June 1 2017 to celebrate the centenary of the Finnish Independence.

Finland 100: Nordic heads of state to celebrate the anniversary of Finland's independence

Nordic heads of state will celebrate the centenary of Finland’s independence in Helsinki on Thursday 1 June 2017. President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio will be the hosts for the day.
The presidential couple will welcome Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway and President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson and his spouse, Eliza Jean Reid, of Iceland in ceremonies beginning in the forecourt of the Presidential Palace at 10.30 am. After the ceremonies, the presidential and royal couples will greet the public from the balcony of the Presidential Palace. The general public can watch the guests arrive at the Market Square (Kauppatori in Finnish) and Pohjoisesplanadi.

To the City Hall on foot
After the programme at the Presidential Palace, the day will continue with a lunch hosted by Helsinki’s incoming mayor Jan Vapaavuori at the City Hall. Weather permitting, the Finnish presidential couple and their guests will walk from the Presidential Palace to the City Hall at around 11.20 am, greeting the public on their way.
In addition, the presidential and royal couples will watch a Dancing Finland (Koko Suomi) dance event, held in the Market Square, from the balcony of the City Hall. The performance will include Humppa and street dance. For more detailed instructions on where members of the public will be located, see the map on the website of the Office of the President of the Republic. It is best to enter the area along the Esplanade.

The visits will culminate in a banquet
In the afternoon, President Niinistö, Mrs Haukio and the Nordic heads of state will participate in the re-inauguration of the Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre. Gunvor Kronman, the CEO of Hanasaari, will host the event.
The guests will also visit the Sibelius Monument in the Sibelius Park, where they will hear singing by the choir of the Helsinki Music Centre, among other performances. The park will also be open to the public, but the actual public event for the head of states’ visit will be arranged at the day’s beginning, in the Market Square and Pohjoisesplanadi.
The day will end with a banquet in the Presidential Palace.

Finland 100: Nordic heads of state to celebrate the anniversary of Finland's independence

Nordic heads of state will celebrate the centenary of Finland’s independence in Helsinki on Thursday 1 June 2017. President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio will be the hosts for the day.
The presidential couple will welcome Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway and President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson and his spouse, Eliza Jean Reid, of Iceland in ceremonies beginning in the forecourt of the Presidential Palace at 10.30 am. After the ceremonies, the presidential and royal couples will greet the public from the balcony of the Presidential Palace. The general public can watch the guests arrive at the Market Square (Kauppatori in Finnish) and Pohjoisesplanadi.

To the City Hall on foot
After the programme at the Presidential Palace, the day will continue with a lunch hosted by Helsinki’s incoming mayor Jan Vapaavuori at the City Hall. Weather permitting, the Finnish presidential couple and their guests will walk from the Presidential Palace to the City Hall at around 11.20 am, greeting the public on their way.
In addition, the presidential and royal couples will watch a Dancing Finland (Koko Suomi) dance event, held in the Market Square, from the balcony of the City Hall. The performance will include Humppa and street dance. For more detailed instructions on where members of the public will be located, see the map on the website of the Office of the President of the Republic. It is best to enter the area along the Esplanade.

The visits will culminate in a banquet
In the afternoon, President Niinistö, Mrs Haukio and the Nordic heads of state will participate in the re-inauguration of the Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre. Gunvor Kronman, the CEO of Hanasaari, will host the event.
The guests will also visit the Sibelius Monument in the Sibelius Park, where they will hear singing by the choir of the Helsinki Music Centre, among other performances. The park will also be open to the public, but the actual public event for the head of states’ visit will be arranged at the day’s beginning, in the Market Square and Pohjoisesplanadi.
The day will end with a banquet in the Presidential Palace.

Artwork and research project as a gift for the 100th anniversary of Finland

Due to the fact that Finland in 2017 celebrates 100 years as an independent state, the Government of Sweden will give two gifts to Finland. These gifts will be handed over by H.M. The King in connection with H.M. The King's visit to Helsinki on June 1, 2017.
The first gift is a work of art by artist Anna Uddenberg, which will be placed at the Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre. The second gift is a Swedish-Finnish forest research project consisting of twelve two-year researcher posts.Konstverk och forskningsprojekt i 100-årsgåva till Finland - Regeringen.seTranslation

Hanasaari - The Cultural Centre for Sweden and Finland is re-inaugurated tomorrow on 1 June grandly - the event is broadcast live around the Nordic region.
President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, as well as Iceland's President Gudni Thorlacius Jóhannesson and his wife Eliza Jean Reid are all participating in the re-inauguration ceremony.
The broadcast from Hanasaari takes place on June 1st, starting at 13.30 Finnish time in Yle1. In Sweden SVT1 and in Norway NRK1 broadcast at 13 o'clock local time.Hanasaari vihitään uudelleen käyttöön huomenna juhlallisin menoin – tapahtuma lähetetään suorana ympäri Pohjolaa

Jenni Haukio, the First Lady of Finland, wears unique jewellery at the banquet
The Finnish Goldsmiths Association handed over jewellery to the President's Office on May 31, 2017. The jewellery was received by its first holder, Mrs. Jenni Haukio, the wife of President Sauli Niinistö, at the President's residence Mäntyniemi. The donation honors the 100th anniversary of Finland's independence.
"I would like to thank The Finnish Goldsmiths Association for a valuable gift which respects the whole Finland and which combines the richness of our nature, the high quality of our craftsmanship and the distinctive character of our design. I am delighted to use the jewellery for the first time on June 1, at a banquet organized at the visit of the Nordic Heads of state", says mrs Haukio.
The necklace is designed for the use for the Head of State or for the wife of the President. The jewellery is made from raw materials found in Finland's soil: the gem beryls from Luumäki and gold panned from Lemmenjoki River. The jewellery is designed by jewelery artist Heli Kauhanen and made by jeweler Juha Loikala. The gem beryls and gold have been donated by the gemstone's finder.Suomi 100_ Presidentti-instituutiolle lahjoitettiin kotimainen jalokivikoru - Suomen tasavallan presidentti_ Tiedotteet ja uutiset

Live broadcasts today at YLE Areena (the finnish National TV)
First broadcast starts at 10.25
The presidential couple welcomes Queen Margrethe II, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, King Harald V and Queen Sonja and President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson and his spouse, Eliza Jean Reid in ceremonies beginning in the forecourt of the Presidential Palace at 10.30. After the ceremonies, the presidential and royal couples greet the public from the balcony of the Presidential Palace. The day continues with a lunch at the City Hall. Weather permitting, the Finnish presidential couple and their guests will walk from the Presidential Palace to the City Hall at around 11.20, greeting the public on their way and from the balcony of the City Hall.Pohjoismaisten valtionpäämiesten vierailu _ TV _ Areena _ yle.fi

The sun is shining, but it is very windy in Helsinki. The guests arrive in order: The presidential couple of Iceland, king Harald and queen Sonja, king Carl Gustaf and queen Silvia and queen Margrethe. The president of Iceland gives a speech at the Presidential Palace when all the guests have arrived. King Harald gives a speech at the lunch at the City Hall, king Carl Gustaf at the re-inauguration of Hanasaari Cultural Centre and queen Margrethe gives a speech at the banquet in the evening.

President Niinistö and his guests come out from the Presidential Palace and listen to the National Anthem of Finland. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBO3yaKXkAAHs_S.jpg
It stopped raining and now they walk to the City Hall, president Niinistö walks with queen Margrethe and mrs Haukio walks with the presidential couple of Iceland. Mrs Haukio waves and shakes hands with the people, especially with the children. They arrived to the City Hall. The broadcast shows the royal yachts Dannebrog and Norge in Helsinki. Now they are waving at the balcony of the City Hall, and the sun is shining again. They are watching a Dancing Finland (Koko Suomi) dance event, held in the Market Square. They went in and are having a lunch hosted by Helsinki’s incoming mayor Jan Vapaavuori.

Video about the re-inauguration of the Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre. Can be watched for 30 days.
President Niinistö, Mrs Haukio and the Nordic heads of state participated in the re-inauguration of the Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre. King Carl Gustaf gave a speech. At the broadcast first some clips from the morning and then the presidents and the royals arrive to Hanasaari. The hostess of the event is finnish actress and singer Maria Ylipää, who also sings at the event. She has acted a lot in Sweden at musicals. The former president of Finland, Tarja Halonen arrived with her husband professor Pentti Arajärvi.100-vuotiaan Suomen onnittelupäivä _ TV _ Areena _ yle.fi

Why is Queen Silvia wearing and Order Collar and Queen Sonja an Order sash?.

According to this list at the website of Finnish Orders of the people who have got the Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose queen Sonja hasn't got it yet. Queen Silvia got it already in 1982 (and queen Margrethe in 1958). It may also be that there has been made a change at the policy, that the Collar of the Order is given only to the Head of State, and only to the Regent, not his queen/or her prince. Because in 1993 both Jean and Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg got it. But in 1996 only king Albert of Belgium got it and in 2008 only grand duke Henri of Luxembourg got it.Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunnan suurristin ketjuineen ulkomaalaiset saajat

It is interesting that an foreign Queen Consort has an higher grade of the Order then the spouse of the President of Finland.

Like I wrote, the policy of giving the collar has changed, it seems when Martti Ahtisaari came as president in 1994. When president Mauno Koivisto was the President of Finland, it was decided that the spouse of the President would be delivered the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose. Mrs Tellervo Koivisto was the first finnish woman, who got the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose in 1992, without the collar.